THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON IS JESUS CHRIST

[Margaret Wright]

THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON IS JESUS CHRIST.             

 Reading from the Bible in Mathew l: 18- 25

¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.  ¹⁹Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.  ²⁰But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. ²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.  ²²Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,  ²³Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.   ²⁴Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:  ²⁵And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

From the above Scriptures we know that His Name was to be called JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins.  This was the main purpose for God’s manifestation of Himself in the flesh to put away SIN by the sacrifice of Himself.  AMEN!   God has ordained that through the preaching of the Gospel people should be saved or converted before leaving this scene of life through death.

 Jesus Christ’s commission after He arose from the dead was, “GO YOU INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.  HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED; BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED.”    Mark 16: 15, 16                                                                                                                                               NOTE THERE IS A CHOICE GIVEN HERE BY OUR LORD

The Gospel is the story of Jesus Christ – His birth, His life, His crucifixion, His death, His burial, His resurrection and His promise to come again!

HIS BIRTH:  was a miracle for Jesus Christ was born of Virgin Mary contrary to the laws of nature and therefore He was born without sin.    The virgin birth of JESUS CHRIST is very significant for JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY BABY BORN IN THIS WORLD WITHOUT SIN.    He is the sinless LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!  as recorded in John 1: 29

Have you noticed the good tidings of great joy announced by the angel to the shepherds was to ALL PEOPLE THAT A SAVIOUR HAS BEEN BORN?  As found in Luke 2: 10-14

Again the Bible says, “WE HAVE SEEN AND DO TESTIFY THAT THE FATHER SENT HIS SON TO BE THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD! 1 John 4: 14

HIS LIFE:  Jesus Christ lived without sin and revealed what God was like to the people.  He said God is His Father and He did many miracles to display the mercy and compassion of God towards ALL MEN.    Jesus Christ by words or a touch made the blind to see, the dumb to speak, the lame to walk, the sick were made whole, and He cleansed lepers.  He raised the dead, and set the demon possessed free from demons.  Our Lord also fed multitudes with five loaves and a few fishes, He stilled the storm that threatened His disciples and He also walked on the water!!!!   WOW!!  He is the only One who did!

HIS CRUCIFIXION, HIS DEATH & BURIAL:   Jesus Christ became very popular and multitudes followed Him wherever He went and this made the religious leaders jealous and they planned to get rid of Him.   These leaders forgot that the Lord had spoken by Isaiah the Prophet that a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son. (Isa.7: 14)  

Through false witnesses and Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples of Jesus, they got hold of Jesus, put a purple robe on Him, and placing a crown of thorns on His head, they bowed before HIM  mocking Him.   They put blindfolds on His eyes and some slapped Him and others spat on Him and some plucked His beard.  Then they lashed Him laying 39 stripes on His back drawing flesh and blood but He never opened His mouth in defense.    The Apostle Peter witnessed all this and later in his epistle he wrote,   “WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, THAT WE, BEING DEAD TO SIN, SHOULD LIVE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS;  BY WHOSE STRIPES WE WERE HEALED.  1 Peter 2: 24     

Notice the past tense used by Peter for it has already taken place for he was there when it happened.  Hallelujah!   Since He has paid the price for our healing, and if you need healing, believe His Word and call on Him and He will answer you!                                                                                                                                      Then on His bleeding back He was made to carry a big wooden cross to Mount Calvary and along with two other men – one on either side of Him they crucified them.   He was placed on the centre cross with His Hands stretched out and nailed to the cross and His feet also were nailed to the cross, while many watched Him suffer.   When He was thirsty they gave Him vinegar on a sponge and a soldier pierced His side with a spear and blood and water came forth.    His holy, sinless blood has power to cleanse any sinner who will repent and forsake his sin and follow HIM. Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered, and bled and died for you and me.   The soldiers broke the legs of the other two men crucified but they did not break His legs for He was dead already and this too was to fulfill  prophecy.  They took Him down from the cross and buried Him in a borrowed tomb and sealed the tomb and set soldiers to watch the tomb in case the disciples stole His Body for they remembered that He said He will rise again

HIS RESURRECTION:    After He died He went to hell paying the penalty for sin and when justice was completed He took the keys of death and hell from Satan!   On the third day like it was prophesied earlier, GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND HE IS ALIVE FOREVER MORE!  OUR LORD IS NOT ON THE CROSS FOR THEY TOOK HIM DOWN FROM THE CROSS!    HIS TOMB IS EMPTY FOR HE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!   Death has been conquered and the grave could not keep Him!  The king’s seal and the soldiers could not prevent Him from coming out of the tomb!!   People from all over the world visit His empty tomb for HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD AND IS ALIVE FOREVER MORE!  Hallelujah!!!!  All those that were earlier raised from the dead, died again and will be judged by God.  The Bible says “IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MAN ONCE TO DIE AND AFTER THAT THE JUDGMENT”  Hebrews 9: 27          

Listen to what Jesus Christ said after He arose from the dead,  “ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH.  GO YE THEREFORE AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY GHOST.  TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD.”  Matt. 28: 19- 20                                                 

 Listen to what the Risen Lord JESUS CHRIST said to the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos, FEAR NOT, I AM THE FIRST & THE LAST: I AM HE THAT LIVETH, AND WAS DEAD: AND BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOREVER MORE, AMEN; AND HAVE THE KEYS OF HELL AND DEATH!!!  (Rev.1: 17, 18)     

HIS PROMISE TO COME AGAIN:   In John 14: 3,  JESUS SAID, “AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF: THAT WHERE I AM YOU MAYBE ALSO.”

JESUS CHRIST INVITES YOU –   “COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL GIVE THEE REST.”  Matt. 11: 28

JESUS CHRIST SAID, I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE:   NO MAN WILL COME TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME  John 14:6        JESUS CHRIST ALSO SAID, “EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN HE SHALL NOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”  John 3: 3

 

AS A TEENAGER, I DID NOT KNOW THESE TRUTHS AND THOUGHT I WAS READY FOR HEAVEN BECAUSE I WAS BORN IN A CHRISTIAN HOME AND WAS A GOOD GIRL.    THIS IS THE LIE OF THE DEVIL FOR AS LONG AS A PERSON DOES NOT REPENT AND FORSAKE HIS PRESENT LIFESTYLE OF SIN AND COME TO JESUS CHRIST, HE WILL BE LOST BECAUSE WE ALL ARE BORN IN THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS,  AS SINNERS, UNDER CONDEMNATION.  Romans 6: 23 says, FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE.

 JESUS CHRIST TOLD US OF A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN WHERE HIS FATHER LIVES AND HE TOLD US ALSO OF A PLACE CALLED HELL, PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS. 

MAN WAS MADE FOR ETERNITY AND DEATH IS THE DOORWAY INTO ETERNITY.                                                                                

All the signs around us today point to the soon coming of Jesus Christ and this is decision making time.

 YOU HAVE HEARD THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST BUT YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION TO COME OUT OF THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS AND COME TO JESUS CHRIST AND RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE.     

WHEN YOU MAKE THAT DECISION THE DEVIL’S DOMINION OVER YOU IS BROKEN BECAUSE OF CALVARY’S PRECIOUS BLOOD-SACRIFICE.  (Psalm 107:2)                                             

 THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HAS REDEEMED YOU AND YOU WILL BE MADE CLEAN ON THE INSIDE AND WILL BE TRNSFORMED BY THE HOLY GHOST TO BE A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY OF GOD!

THERE ARE ONLY TWO PLACES IN ETERNITY -  HEAVEN AND HELL  WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY DEPENDS ON YOUR DECISION! 

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE AS ETERNITY IS ONLY A BREATH AWAY. 

 THE RISEN CHRIST IS A PRAYER AWAY!   CALL ON HIM NOW!

GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU AS YOU CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH JOY AND REJOICING UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN WHEN ALL HIS CHILDREN WILL MEET TOGETHER  IN FATHER’S HOUSE!!

Margaret Wright